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The National Kitchen & Bath Association and General Electric announced the winners of the 2011 NKBA/GE Charette Competition, which awards over $20,000 in scholarships to students who demonstrate kitchen design skills.
More than 400 students from 28 colleges participated in the challenge, which tests students’ kitchen design knowledge by producing a floorplan with specifications, a design statement, and a perspective or elevation of a kitchen featuring GE appliances, all within three hours. All designs had to adhere to the NKBA Planning Guidelines as well as to NKBA Graphic and Presentation Standards.
Kelsey Warren, from Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria, Minn., was chosen as the first place winner and recipient of a $5,000 scholarship. The second place winner was Katelyn Shipe of Virginia Tech, who received a $4,000 scholarship. The third place winner and recipient of a $3,000 scholarship was Ryan Young of East Carolina University. The fourth place winner was Courtney Simper of Brigham Young University, who received a $2,500 scholarship, and the fifth place recipient of a $2,000 scholarship was Jennifer McKell, also from Brigham Young. Honorable Mention winners were also selected to receive $1,000 scholarships. Three local winners from each of the 28 colleges represented were chosen to receive $50 each.
“The NKBA is grateful to GE for its continued support of this competition,” said Sherylin Doyle, manager of academic relations for NKBA. “The challenge builds students’ confidence and their skills for success, which not only helps them when taking NKBA certification exams, but also ensures that the kitchen and bath industry will continue to offer a number of very qualified professionals in the future.”